Eberchi Eze's position at Arsenal has come under scrutiny after a series of inconsistent performances. His role was questioned following a lackluster display against Aston Villa, where he was criticized for not tracking back during Matty Cash's opening goal in a 2-1 loss in December 2025. After starting in the subsequent match, Eze was benched for the next four league games.
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Despite being a popular figure both at Arsenal and within the England national team, even head coach Thomas Tuchel acknowledged that Eze was "coming back to his true shape and form" during training in the last international break, signaling that he has not yet reached his peak this season. This absence of form is particularly notable, as Arsenal did not secure a new top-tier attacker in the last transfer window, despite interest in players like Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. and Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez.
Arsenal signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, who started the season as the preferred winger until a hamstring injury sidelined him during international duty. This created an opportunity for Eze, who managed to score while starting on the left wing against Lille in the Champions League; however, he failed to build on that performance in the next match against Nottingham Forest.
Former Arsenal and England defender Matt Upson commented on Eze's challenges, stating, "Finding his role and position has been challenging. When you come to a club with the stature and quality of Arsenal, it's difficult to maintain a position if you're not nailing down a certain role." He noted that Eze is currently filling in on the left side, which may not suit his playing style, stressing the importance of clarity in one's role at a club of Arsenal's caliber.
Eze previously showcased his abilities at Crystal Palace, including a crucial winning goal in the 2025 FA Cup final against Manchester City. Upson reflected on Eze's high-caliber performances, suggesting that without a strong foundation regarding positioning and game awareness, it's hard for him to replicate such moments.
While he performed well as a left-sided player at Palace, Eze shifted to a more central number 10 role in his final two seasons. However, with Martin Odegaard occupying that position at Arsenal, Eze's opportunities to play there are minimal. Upson emphasized the need for Eze to grasp what is expected of him to secure more starts.
Eze has had significant game time, having started 36 of Arsenal's 63 matches last season, accounting for 57 percent of the games. Since his debut in August 2025, he has started 56 percent of matches. Although he has netted 11 goals in 61 appearances, those goals have come from only eight games, including five against Tottenham Hotspur in two league encounters and vital strikes against Newcastle and Crystal Palace during title-winning moments.
Encouragingly, this season Eze's per 90-minute statistics are showing improvement in assists, goals, and other key metrics compared to the previous campaign. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta emphasized the high expectations for all players, stating it is essential for the team to push for higher levels of performance. The Gunners will face Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday at 20:00 BST.